Train Derails in Ohio - Anyone in the vicinity?

[themartianchick]

http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2012/jul/11/36/train-derails-hazmat-called-scene-ar-1099151/

 

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A train derails near the Ohio State Fairgrounds on the city's north side early Wednesday morning, causing an explosion that was seen from 10 miles away.

 

A southbound Norfolk Southern train with two locomotives and 98 freight cars of mixed freight derailed between E. 11th and E. 5th avenues at about 2:05 a.m. Eleven train cars derailed, officials said.

 

After the derailment, there was an explosion, and several train cars caught fire. The exact number of train cars that caught fire, and the cause of the derailment is not known.

 

Fire officials tell NBC4's Marshall McPeek that there are 20,00 gallons of ethanol burning on board the train.

 

Officials said that several of the train cars contained styrene which, if ignited, can give off a gas that affects the nervous system if inhaled. It would become a "nerve agent."

 

As of 7:30 a.m., two train cars remain on fire, and officials said they were going to allow the alcohol to burn for the next six to eight hours. However, fire officials later toldNBC4 thathey would extinguish the fire before Noon.

 

[Deb2of9]

I missed hearing about this. (No tv and haven't had the radio on.) I am not in the area of this. I am further north, but I have a nephew down that way. I will have to check into him since he lives outside Columbus.

[sassenach]

ok, its noon, I wonder if they extinguished it yet? You would think the freight trains would be set up when it comes to moving chemicals and flammables to have several cars of inert stuff between two such materials????? Did they even consider that might help avoid such things when there are accidental derailments or other damage to the cars?

 

UPDATE, 12:06pm they just started evacuations....

[Jori]

Keep an eye on this. Our local news had a report about the tracks warping because of the heat. There was a derailment last week and it was because of the track.

 

The tracks are one long piece now and it warps (track in the midwest can withstand 95*, 105* out west). The old track that was pieces didn't have this problem.

[homeschoolshe]

Officials said that several of the train cars contained styrene which, if ignited, can give off a gas that affects the nervous system if inhaled. It would become a "nerve agent."

 

As of 7:30 a.m., two train cars remain on fire, and officials said they were going to allow the alcohol to burn for the next six to eight hours. However, fire officials later toldNBC4 thathey would extinguish the fire before Noon.

 

 

So they contain a gas that can become a nerve agent........and their first thought is to let something nearby to burn for 6-8 hours. Well at least they went for a 2nd thought.

 

good reminder to be ready for an evac. Hope everyone here is out of harms way.

[Amishway Homesteaders]

.................. so that is what was going on?

I have a railroad scanner and the trains behind me were all delayed and west to Buffalo was starting to stack up. So it really made a mess of things all the way into New York.